Jiayu (Jennifer) Luo

Major:
Psychology & Neuroscience

Hometown:
Fremont, CA

What are your life/career plans after Ohlone College?
After transferring, I want to pursue a career in mental healthcare. Whether that means working towards a doctorate to become a clinical psychologist or attending medical school to become a psychiatrist I have yet to figure out.

Why are you interested in mental health and wellness?
When you’re struggling with mental health, there’s this feeling of isolation and shame–that there’s no one you can really talk to about it and “I should be able to deal with this myself”. It’s incredibly difficult to reach out for help, and I still can’t believe how long it took for me to get the support I needed. After opening up about it, I discovered that 1) there are so many misconceptions people have about mental illness and 2) many close friends and family had gone through similar experiences. Breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness and promoting conversation about it are causes very close to my heart.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Doing work I’m passionate about, finishing school, getting my own place with a small personal library, and (hopefully) have some semblance of work-life balance.

What kind do you like to do in your free time?
Reading books, spending time with friends and family, eating tasty food.

What’s your favorite genre of music?
Asian indie and acoustic music; what you might hear at a quiet cafe or boba shop that’d be a good place to study.